COLORADO, US: EchoStar Communications Corporation has announced that it has reached a joint sublicensing agreement with the Asian Television Network International Limited (ATN) and Viewer's Choice Canada for the broadcast of the 2003 Cricket World Cup through Canadian cable and satellite television providers.

An official release informs that EchoStar is the exclusive distributor for the International Cricket Counsel's (ICC) Cricket World Cup 2003 via television, radio and the Internet to countries within North, Central and South America. However, the terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

ATN, a South Asian programmer in Canada, and Viewer's Choice Canada, a pay-per-view distributor for many cable and satellite operators across Canada, have together acquired rights to distribute 25 of the 54 matches of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 via Canadian cable and satellite television providers.

All 25 matches will be shown live from South Africa. ATN will also broadcast a 30-minute daily highlight show of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 on a 24-hour delay.

Canada is taking part in this edition of the World Cup. They are in the same group as South Africa and the West Indies. The event is being broadcast across the globe including include Sony Max in India, Rupavhini in Sri Lanka, Sky Sports in the United Kingdom, Pakistan TV in Pakistan, SABC in South Africa, BTV in Bangladesh, Sky Sports in New Zealand, Fox Sports in Australia. EchoStar's DISH Network will exclusively broadcast the World Cup in the United States.

EchoStar Communications Corporation and its DISH Network claims to be a US leader in offering satellite television entertainment services to more than eight million customers. DISH Network provides advanced digital satellite television services to the home, including hundreds of video, audio and data channels, personal video recording, HDTV, international programming, professional installation and 24-hour customer service.